New energy for the Fulda fire brigade

Our relationship with the Fulda fire brigade is a very special story, as it was the first fire brigade to decide to rely exclusively on the first generation of the PowAirBox from LEAB as its supply system for electricity and compressed air. As a token of our thanks and appreciation for the long partnership, we recently supported the Fulda fire brigade in fitting their vehicles with the successor model to the power and compressed air supply system, the PowAirBox II.

Vehicles await their turn in front of the Fulda fire brigade garage

But first things first: The Fulda fire brigade really became aware of LEAB when the PowAirBox supply system was launched in 2014. The initial interest was followed by regular visits, which soon led to an initial co-operation. What began as goodwill quickly developed into an exemplary business relationship, culminating in the pioneering decision by the Fulda fire brigade to equip all new vehicles with our products. Carsten Richter explains the decision.

PowAirBox II with plugged-in power supply line on a fire engine. — One of the impressive features of the PowAirBox II is its new display.

Finding and binding

"There were often problems with the product we had been using before," says the Head of Technology at the Fulda fire service. "So we decided to try something new and came across LEAB and the PowAirBox. Even the installation was much more pleasant and the customer service was outstanding. We have never regretted this decision."

"We hit it off straight away," says LEAB Sales Manager Marius Urbanowicz, describing the start of the collaboration. "From the very first time we met, we realised how much we clicked - not just on a personal level, but in particular on a professional level."

Much has changed since then, but the basic values have remained the same. The Fulda Fire Department and LEAB share the conviction that continuous improvement and cooperation can significantly increase efficiency and safety in the rescue services.

Melf Neimöck, Marius Urbanowicz and Carsten Richter (from left to right) are delighted with the successful operation.

The technology behind it

A crucial point, because despite all the goodwill the quality and reliability of the products are decisive in the end. Not only in terms of the purchase, but ultimately about life and death when it comes to emergency vehicles.

"We were very satisfied with the PowAirBox, but are also looking forward to the innovations from its successor. In addition to the low installation depth, which is particularly appealing to fitters, we really like the multi-stage power control. This monitors the connecting and disconnecting of the clutch and controls the switching on and off of the load so that no damage occurs,” says Carsten Richter.

What makes the PowAirBox II special

According to the technical manager, the automatic eject function, the low voltage warning and the start-lockingfunction are also particularly important. The technical manager was amazed by how easy the conversion was. For the vehicles that were already equipped with a PowAirBox, the process took less than a quarter of an hour. As the dimensions are the same, no adjustments had to be made to the bodywork, for example.

"I was very surprised. I thought they would be travelling here with a whole team of technicians, but the work was basically done by a single person. We couldn't keep up with making the vehicles available," says Carsten Richter with a grin.

Helping with conversion and retrofitting

Changing models from other providers proved to be a little more complicated. "Some of the cables had to be re-routed, circuit diagrams changed and new fuses installed," explains Marius Urbanowicz. "That took a little longer, of course. But we were happy to take the time. The collaboration with the Fulda fire brigade is a prime example of our commitment to offering customised solutions and genuine partnerships. We are proud to once again be able to make a contribution to the safety and efficiency of the fire brigade with the PowAirBox II," says the sales manager.

At the end of the day, all the vehicles were able to return to their bays - freshly supplied with the latest technology for power and compressed air supply and ready for new tasks. Much to the delight of Carsten Richter: